Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Chui Sai On said that the authority would strengthen the prevention of infectious diseases by enhancing the hardware and software of the Centre for Control Disease and Prevention (CDC).

Mr. Chui today (26 Oct.) attended the "Second Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao". The meeting was held in Macao from 25-26 October. Participants included the Vice Minister of Health, Huang Jiefu who headed the Chinese delegation and the Director of Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Dr E K Yeoh, JP who headed the Hong Kong delegation.

Mr. Chui said that based on the experience of fighting against SARS, it was necessary to step up the functions of CDC to respond to social development.

He said that to perfect the software of CDC, the Health Bureau had requested the Ministry of Health to increase the support in professional trainings for Macao's medical staff and to send epidemiologists to Macao.

Meanwhile, the Secretary expected that CDC would move a roomier building next year.

The second joint meeting discussed issues on Overall Strategy for Control of Infectious Diseases, Exchange and Co-operation in Chinese Medicine, Monitoring of Medical Regulatory Requirements, and Monitoring of Food Hygiene and Regulatory Control.

The first joint meeting was held in last June in Beijing.